Smoking rooms for England?

Mounting speculation suggests the Government will ditch its ill-received plan to exempt pubs not serving food from the forthcoming ban on smoking in enclosed public places for England.

Although a full ban remains an option, it is believed Health secretary Patricia Hewitt may be considering allowing smoking rooms in pubs to appease the industry and avoid accusations of nanny state policies.

It is believed the cabinet will take a final vote on smoking this Thursday, although divisions on the best way forward amongst ministers could delay this further.

One senior health lobbyist that didn’t wish to be named said he believed the Government would still opt for a full ban, but said: “Patricia Hewitt is desperate not to upset anyone and this is why the compromise measure of smoking rooms is being considered again.”

He added that with John Reid no longer at the Department of Health (DoH), the election win safely in the bag and wide spread opposition to current proposals, a full ban remained likely.

A spokeswoman for the DoH said she couldn’t comment on speculation ahead of the publishing of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill this autumn. “What ever legislation is finally introduced we want to make sure it is effective and workable,” he said.

Pro-ban supporters in the Government are said to include the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Treasury, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Health Executive and the Government’s chief medical officer Liam Donaldson.

By Chris Druce

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